The Cornflower Witch Chapter 270

In Regas territory, Axebreaker City.

Rough rocks piled up to form a city wall about thirty meters high. The terrain here was strategically vital, built against the mountains, and served as an important stronghold guarding the passage from central to southern Regas.

The city was bustling with activity, as Anti armies were summoned from all directions and gathered here.

Inside the Lord’s Mansion.

“My lord, we have found the core stronghold of the Hundred-Eyed Cult. It’s a hidden valley in the mountains, unknown and secret.” A secret agent in a black-gray uniform hurried into the room to report.

“Are you sure? Report the specific situation to me,” said Katchis, who had been pacing in the room, turning around.

“Yes, my lord.”

The secret agent then detailed the location of the valley and its general condition to Katchis.

“They seem to be preparing for something, perhaps another mysterious ritual.”

Upon hearing the word ‘ritual’, Katchis’s eyes widened, and an uncontrollable aura spread, almost suffocating the secret agent in front of him.

“I understand,” he said after a few seconds, reining in his aura.

“Notify the ‘Mist Blade’ squad to closely monitor that valley.”

“Yes, but my lord, when we discovered that valley, we used ‘Golden-Eyed Hawks’ trained by the army. If the Mist Blade squad goes in, they might be detected by the eyeball monsters. Those creatures have exceptionally good eyesight, and even invisibility might not hide them.”

“That’s true.” Katchis humbly accepted his subordinate’s suggestion.

“Have them wait in a hidden spot outside the valley. You all continue to use the Golden-Eyed Hawks to observe the situation there. If there’s any change, immediately notify the Mist Blade squad; they will know how to respond.”

“Yes.”

The secret agent then left.

In the room, Katchis marked the valley on the map, then summoned a messenger to issue various orders.

After learning the precise location of the Hundred-Eyed Cult and Prince Jabbers, the Anti army within Regas territory began to mobilize and gather like an awakened giant beast. They first arrived at Axebreaker City for reorganization, then set off in batches.

The initial batches went to different regions in southern Regas, feigning a search for traces, while the main army slowly moved south. When they reached an area not far from the hidden valley, all units abruptly changed their marching direction and converged on the predetermined target, gradually encircling the valley monitored by the Golden-Eyed Hawks, much like a pocket.

Dark red banners fluttered, Anti soldiers in pointed conical helmets stood ready. Guided by messenger cavalry weaving through the ranks, the formations moved forward step by step. The mighty army that conquered Regas reappeared in this land after two years.

On the mountain peak, the leader of the Hundred-Eyed Cult overlooked the scene from afar, his body unmoving, his dark red robe fluttering in the cold wind.

“I underestimated that Anti person.”

Because of the Hundred-Eyed Cult’s overzealous preparations, their actions were not as secretive as before, and Katchis, being an Anti general skilled in reconnaissance and intelligence gathering, naturally discovered their tracks.

“What do we do now, Cult Master?” a senior cultist beside him asked, bowing his head.

“Should we pause the ritual and immediately break out and relocate?” Most of them were commoners, and even after joining the cult, they still had an instinctive fear of nobles and large armies.

“Pause? No, no,” the leader refused with a grim voice.

“The time for the alignment of the stars, we have no room for error. We won’t get a second chance later.”

He took a deep breath, seemingly having made up his mind.

“Notify the branches in all strongholds. Have them act immediately, seize control of local towns, and use Prince Jabbers’ name.” “We previously had Prince Jabbers write hundreds of enfeoffment proclamations, along with seals of power, scepters, and other symbols. These things might be useless normally, but at critical moments, they can ignite a massive turmoil.”

“Since Katchis won’t give us a way out, we don’t need to give him a retreat. I want to see if his general can return to the Anti Kingdom alive after most of Regas’s territory rebels and declares independence.”

“This, I understand.” The cultist wanted to argue further but held his tongue.

Instigating rebellions across Regas seemed like a good thing, but it would also fully expose the Hundred-Eyed Cult’s centuries-old foundation and hidden assets.

Cults were called cults precisely because they were not recognized by mainstream forces. Once exposed, they would face not only the Anti army but also other consequences. However, the situation was critical this time. If they didn’t use these trump cards, they wouldn’t get a second chance.

Not every generation of the Hundred-Eyed Cult could encounter an era of national chaos and distraction, precisely during the third year of the Storm Season.

Thus, under various pressures, even if they knew it was extremely dangerous, they had no better choice.

Tens of thousands of Anti troops marched across the plains. Their sprawling camps stretched for nearly ten kilometers. Even at night, patrolling soldiers carried torches back and forth, deterring any lurking forces from making rash moves.

However, after these large armies were mobilized and gathered, supply became a huge problem. They would no longer receive materials and food from the Anti Kingdom’s main supply chain, only able to extract from the stores of towns and villages along their route within Regas territory.

…

Outside a village, a tall and burly Anti quartermaster directed his subordinates to surround the place, then gathered the villagers in the square.

He sat on a tall, bay warhorse, holding a whip and pointing at the villagers in front of him.

“Listen up, you will immediately bring all the grain, vegetables, and meat in the village to the square.”

“I’ll give you two hours to move them. Afterward, I’ll have soldiers inspect every house. If anyone is found hoarding and not handing over, they will be killed without mercy!” The last few words exploded like thunder among the crowd.

The villagers stirred, some wanting to argue, but soon a whip lashed down, tearing skin and flesh.

“Remember, this is not a negotiation, nor a plea, but an order that demands absolute obedience!” he emphasized again, his ice-blue, dim eyes chilling the hearts of those attempting to resist.

Mobilizing a large army was no trifling matter; if supplies were cut off, the consequences would be unimaginable. Not only must 100% of the required food be supplied, but 200% of food provisions should be prepared to have enough leeway for various emergencies.

Amidst silent cries, some villagers numbly returned home, starting to carry out the grain. At this time, some Anti soldiers also rushed into the village, urging and supervising, continuously loading bags of discovered food onto carriages and dragging them out of the village.

Such a scene was not limited to this first village but was happening in various towns and villages across southern Regas.

During this process, some felt it was inappropriate and reported it to their superiors.

“I have noted your report, but everything will proceed as usual. There is no need for excessive mercy.”

“Whether you take everything or half, you will incur their hatred. Doing half and leaving half is the most laughable thing.”

“Furthermore, you must believe that those people are not the fools and good citizens you imagine them to be. They always have hidden things and always find a way to survive. It’s not for you and me to worry about their future.”

“We are the army that conquered them. Everything we do is to seize what originally belonged to others. This is our mission. Do not be fooled by pedantic sermons.”

“They, too, will accept this reality through repeated expropriations, just as they once served and paid taxes to the nobles of Regas. People are always willing to submit to a stronger existence, so that the weak can draw a sense of security from submission.”